“I’m sorry it ended that way, but like I said yesterday, I hope you can find some joy in your life.”
He finished with the cheese and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “About that, I thought more about what I said last night.”
“Which part? You said a lot.”
He put the dish inside the pre-heated oven. Then wiped his hand on a paper towel. When he was done he leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms making the muscles in his biceps flex. She swallowed hard and her thighs instinctively tightened. This man was playing with her emotions without even trying.
“The part about us not being together because of the circumstances,” he said.
“Yeah, about that. Look I get it and honestly, I understand—”
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
That wasn’t what she expected him to say. “Why not?”
“Because, if I’m honest, I don’t feel that way.” His gaze was unwavering as he stared at her. “I am interested in you. I would like for us to consider dating.”
As far as confessions it was straightforward and as honest as one could expect. Her heart even fluttered that he’d admitted it, but she still couldn’t help but think if he was saying that because he wanted her, or because he wanted someone like her in his life.
“We can’t be together.”
He frowned. “Can’t be together or you don’t want us to get together? Can’t and want are two different things.”
“Can’t. At least, not right now.”
He unfolded his arms and shifted his stance. Confusion filled his brown eyes. “Okay, I don’t believe in can’t, but you tell me the reason why you’re saying that.”
“Well, first I’m not sure if I’m the kind of woman you want.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” His gaze ran up and down her body. The look was quick, but it was hot and thorough.
Tingling spread across her skin and heat filled her cheeks. Okay, so she could cross off any doubts about physical attraction. “I may be the kind of woman you’re attracted to, but that doesn’t mean I’m the kind of woman you want a relationship with.”
“I disagree. We’ve been friends for years. You get along great with Beenie. We’ve already settled into a pattern that proves we can be compatible.”
And that was exactly why she hesitated to do this. She was his fifty-cent bottle of water. “See, that’s the other reason. You’re one of those people who sees things a certain way and expect others to go along with that, and I have a tendency to be a people pleaser.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means exactly what I said. Take yesterday, I didn’t make it a big deal, but it’s not the first time you forgot to pick up the girls and I had to get them. It’s gotten better since you started working for the city, but you use your job as an excuse to change plans, when newsflash, my job is just as important.”
“I never said it wasn’t.”
“No, you never said it, but you also don’t ask about what I’m doing at work of if I have the ability to change my schedule. It’s as if you expect me to just say yes. Which isn’t all your fault because I do say yes, because I don’t want to rock the boat. I know the girls will still need to be picked up or need someone to get them to practice.”
“You can say no.”
“And you can keep your promises to do your end of this ‘it takes a village’ scenario that we’re doing. Instead, you don’t.”
He blinked. “Is this how you feel about me?” His voice wasn’t defensive. He sounded as if he were taking her words under consideration.
“Yes, it is.”
“I wasn’t trying to inconvenience you.”
“I know you may not intentionally be trying to do that, but you’re kind of selfish. You tend to focus on your needs and your rules. If it goes against any of that then you’re stiff and you automatically wait for those around you to go along with your decision. I can deal with that as your friend, but in a relationship.” She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
“I wouldn’t be like that.”
